Sam Marquardt

Sam Marquardt has extensive experience in grant management, currently serving as a Senior Program and Grants Associate at the McKnight Foundation since July 2009. Responsibilities include overseeing grant payments and managing a $17 million grant portfolio, ensuring compliance with IRS and Foundation guidelines, and administering the McKnight Endowment for Neuroscience's grantmaking database. Previous roles include managing multi-million dollar grant portfolios for the Midwest Climate & Energy Program and the Mississippi River Program, where Sam demonstrated leadership in redesigning grantmaking processes for equity and accessibility. Earlier experience at the Grotto Foundation included managing a $1 million grant portfolio, while initial roles focused on office management and database development. Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Women's Studies from Macalester College and has additional educational experience at Dominican University.